A Karing, sharing weblog

REUNION

This past Christmas, we celebrated the birth of Jesus with a big family reunion. There were 26 of us gathered together at our small home, including a few friends. The next day, the entire family embarked on a 5+ hour drive to Yosemite National Park, where we stayed for a few days in a beautiful 6-bedroom, 4 bath house in the Redwoods. We played games, joked, laughed, cooked, ate, prayed, relaxed, did some hiking, viewed God’s awesome creation, and shared some of our life experiences with one another. There was a lot of love. It was a wonderful time, and we hated to see it end. This was one of the best family reunions I had ever experienced. The times we had together were precious. And even though almost two months have passed since then, the fond memories are etched deeply in my heart.

I wondered, what made this reunion so special? We had had other great reunions before, but this was the first family reunion in which a sibling was missing. An empty chair and plate were at the family table this time. Our dear brother Tommy Joe has been gone over six years now. So this reunion became more dear to my heart because I am further realizing the brevity of life. The bible says, “Whereas you do not know what [will happen] tomorrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14. This made me appreciate our time together even more.

From birth, our families are the first social circle we have. My heart contains a priceless treasure chest full of family memories and times spent together. Not all the memories are happy, but most are. The good and the bad, the happy and sad; all combine to make us who we are. Reunion; every heart longs for it. We experience reunions on a daily basis. We leave our homes. Some go to school, some to work, some to play. We return to one another in the evening; content that all the family is together again and safe.

There is another reunion coming where a trumpet will sound, and we who are in Christ will rise up to be reunited with family, loved ones and best of all, with Jesus. There will be no more sorrow or pain. And God shall wipe all our tears away. Scripture confirms it. Many songs have been composed about it. My heart longs for it. What a glorious day that will be!

But I would not have you to be ignorant brethren concerning them which are asleep that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. I Thessalonians 4:13-18

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One Response

Indeed, our family reunion was such a precious time! I’m so thankful we had this opportunity to be together. I too, am greatly looking forward to that heavenly reunion, when at last we shall see our blessed Savior face to face. What a day that will be! I enjoyed this post, sis. Love ya loads. 🙂